As Gaza continues to face severe shortages of essential supplies, many Egyptians are calling for the reopening of the Rafah border crossing to allow humanitarian aid to flow into the besieged territory.
The appeal follows reports of Israeli air strikes near Rafah, a town that sits on the border between Egypt and Gaza. Under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the crossing was expected to reopen earlier in the week, but that has not yet happened.
In Cairo, residents expressed deep concern for the people of Gaza, describing them as family and urging for swift action to end their suffering. “This is the wish of all Egyptians — for the borders to open and for aid to reach Gaza. We just want this humanitarian crisis to end,” said one local resident.
Another Egyptian, Maryam, echoed similar feelings of solidarity. “They are our brothers and sisters. We will do all we can to help them,” she said.
Despite growing public pressure, Israeli authorities announced that the crossing would remain closed until further notice. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that its reopening depends on Hamas handing over the bodies of deceased hostages.
With the ceasefire under strain and accusations of violations on both sides, the delay in reopening Rafah has worsened conditions for civilians in Gaza. Meanwhile, Egyptian Red Crescent vehicles carrying food, medical supplies, and mobile clinics remain stationed at the border, waiting for clearance to enter the enclave.